The Al-Qassam Brigade confirmed the death of 53-year-old Samir Abu Younis, commander of the Rafah Brigade, following an Israeli strike in Al-Mawasi west of Khan Younis. Gaza civil defence officials reported that the Saturday evening operation also left two other individuals wounded. The targeted killing underscores persistent violence under the October 2025 truce, during which more than 1,600 Palestinians have been killed alongside eight Israeli casualties.
Key points
The targeted commander was identified as a key supervisor and planner of the October 7 at…: The targeted commander was identified as a key supervisor and planner of the October 7 attack against Israel.
Mutual accusations of ceasefire violations persist as regular Israeli strikes continue to…: Mutual accusations of ceasefire violations persist as regular Israeli strikes continue to disrupt the negotiated agreement.
Military operations proceed under caretaker Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while polit…: Military operations proceed under caretaker Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while political negotiations for a new coalition continue.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
JERUSALEM: The Israeli military said on Sunday (Nov 15) its forces had struck a senior militant from Hamas's military wing, which confirmed the death of one of its commanders in Gaza.
Samir Abu Younis, a military leader who played a key role in planning Hamas's Oct 7, 2023 attack on Israel, was killed on Saturday, according to a statement from the Islamist movement's Al-Qassam Brigade.
"A short while ago, the IDF and ISA struck a senior terrorist in Hamas' military wing," the Israeli military said in a joint statement with internal security agency Shin Bet, in the early hours of Sunday morning.
It did not elaborate but said it would later provide further details.
"He was killed yesterday evening ... in a cowardly assassination operation," the Al-Qassam Brigade posted on Telegram, adding Younis was "among the most important commanders involved in the planning and supervision of the Oct 7 attack".
A security source told AFP shortly after midnight that Younis, the commander of Al-Qassam's Rafah Brigade, died in a strike "targeting him moments ago in Al-Mawasi, west of Khan Younis."
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